Managing microRNAs
02/25/2009
Two independent, upcoming G&D papers lend new insight into the expression of microRNAs and their targets during vertebrate development. Dr. David Bartel and colleagues describe a novel experimental system for genome-wide quantitative analysis of miRNA target expression in miRNA-expressing cells. They found that in the developing zebrafish embryo, miRNA targets are commonly expressed at lower levels in miRNA-expressing cells, suggesting that miRNAs work in concert with other regulatory processes to dampen target gene expression in specific miRNA-expressing cells. Separately, Dr. Antonio Giraldez and colleagues detail their identification of the muscle-specific miRNA targets in the zebrafish embryo. They report that miR-1 and miR-133 are they key muscle regulatory miRNAs, and that they function by mediating actin organization in the developing muscle. Corresponding Papers:
Coherent but overlapping expression of microRNAs and their targets during vertebrate development Alena Shkumatava, Alexander Stark, Hazel Sive, and David Bartel Zerbafish miR-1 and miR-133 shape muscle gene expression and regulate sarcomeric actin organization Yuichiro Mishima, Cei Abreu-Goodger, Alison A Staton, Carlos Stahlhut, Chong Shou, Chao Cheng, Mark Gerstein, Anton J Enright, and Antonio J Giraldez #### Genes & Development is a publication of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit, basic research and educational institution. Scientists at the Laboratory conduct groundbreaking research in cancer, neurobiology, plant molecular genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. The Laboratory is recognized internationally for its educational activities, which include an extensive program of scientific meetings and courses that attract more than 8000 scientists to the campus each year. For more information about the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, visit www.cshl.edu or call the Department of Public Affairs at (516) 367-8455. Contact: Heather Cosel-Pieper Genes & Development Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory tel. (516) 422-4018 fax (516) 422-4093
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